Lamp-socket switch.



R. C. PFLEAGER.

LAMP SOCKET SWITCH,

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. I917.

1395,58. Ptented Feb. 25, 1919.

- acitizen of the United States,

curios.

:aoscon c. rrLnaenn, or rniiannnrnm, PENNSYLVANIA.

' tamr socxnrswxrcm sive form of socket switch particularly designed foruse in 'rangement of parts the relatively quick making and breaklng ofbeing such as to cause the circuit of which said switch constitutes aart.

' nother object of the invention is to provide a form of switchconstructed for use with a candelabraor Edison-base socket, and designedfor operation by a suitable lever adjacent its lower end.

A further object of. the invention is to provide a socket switch of thegeneral type indicated which shall have its parts so arranged as topermit free wires through its body or central stem with out requiringthe provision or formation of openings in the latter.

' It is als desired to provide a switch with a novel form ofstemparticularly adapted for attachment to a candelabra socket oran Edisonsocket.

l The, invention further contemplates a socket switch capable of beingoperated by the rotation of its-movable member in either directiontogether with such a disposition of the contacts as will cause them tobe at all times within closed compartments with a view to preventingshort circuiting between said arms or arcing as well as possible leakageof current to the metallic parts of the device.

I also desire to provide a novel arrpngement of switch contacts and momtings therefor, particularly adapted for use with in an elongated casingstructure such as an imitation candle. v

These objects and other advantageous ends I secure as hereinafter setforth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in verti cal section, illustrating aswitch constructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a'vertical section on the line 2-2, Fig.1;and W Fig. 3 is a.detached perspective View illustrating certain. or the'parts going tomake up the preferred form of my swltch.

' specification oftenets Iatentr imitation candles, the arpassage of theI without departing from arms.

tively 90 Patented Application sled June 1,1 9'1 7." vsteal Nb. 172,210.

In 7 the above drawings, 1 represents a branch or supporting arm of alighting fixture which is usually madetubrilarfonthe accommodation of apair of currentbonductors 2 and 3 and this arm terminates inia boss orhead 4: having an externally threaded outlet 5. On this outlet isscrewed a coupling member 6 made in the form" of an internally threadedsleeve having at one-end a hexagonal, collar 7 for the receptionof awrench. Threadedinto this coupling is a tubular stem 8 likewisethreaded. at; its upper end and having in turn threaded upon it aflanged, internally "and externally threaded collar 9.

In the form of my invention ShOWDQin the drawings this collar hasmountedupon' it a tubular stem extension1O -threadedcat its upper endfor the reception of the threaded stem or plug 11 of a lamp'so'cket.12.'"lv Said socket is designed for the reception of an Edison baseincandescent lamp 13 andwith the switch mechanism-hereafter?- described,the stein, conductors, etc., is designed to. be

inclosed within a glass tube 14 simulating a' candle and said casing,which is usually of white glass, extends from socket 12 down to a flatannular plate 15 which in the case shown, is rotatably: mounted upon acanopy or ornamentalmetal base,

structure 16 supported by the head or boss 4 on the tubular fixturebranch 1. 1

Obviously, if desired the stemv extension 10 may be omitted and the 11of the socket 12 screwed directly into the upper threaded end ofthecolla'r 9- or if desired, other forms of socket such as thatcustomarily designed for use in candelabra may be threaded uponor'withi'n said collar my invention-"; -it being obvious thattheinclosing leasing or imitation candle would in such case be made ofsuitable length. g V

As shown in Fig. 3, the upper end. of the tubular stem 8 has twooutwardly extending lugs or arms 17 preferably formed by pressing outopposite'po'rtions of itsstructure and these are designed to fit intoopposite radial recesses 19 formed in aninsulating sleeve'18 so as toimmovably hold it on the upper part of said: stem-below said lugs or Atpointsonithe sleeve 18 respecdistant from the slots 19, are formedelongated recesses extending parallel with thelongitudinal axis of thestructure and designed for the reception of a pair of the top of the 00supporting plug ios contact strips 20 and 21. The upper ends of thesestrips are provided with binding screws or terminals 22 and their lowerends are laterally extended and curved as indicated act-23 and- 24 toform part of or conform with the wave-shaped lower edge of away from itscircular flange 31 by a spring '32 mountedbetween the bottom of the tubev andthe lower end of the rectangular part 29. This rectangularvertically slidable sleeve '30 passes through a rcctangularopening inthe operating plate orhandle 15 so v that it withthe sleeve 28 isnecessarily rotated when said operating plate is turned.

nected-to it a circular washer 34 of sheet- 1 1 3 metal which isrotatable upon the sleeve 6 so .1 0

The latter is provided with a handle 33 wherebyit may be convenientlymanipulated and has soldered or otherwise rigidly conas to guide andproperly position said operating plate 15'.

The upper edge of the rotatable insulating sleeve 28 has an outlinecomplementary to that of the lower edge of the part '25 of the sleeve 18;'-that is to say, it is made to have a wavy or undulating outline,formed with the same curves as those of the adjacent end 7' of saidfixed. sleeve. This rotary sleeve has edge of thesleeve 28. I in thatform of my invention shown, these cp'acting edges of the fixed androtary sleeve each have four similar curved recesses and 4b rigidlyfixed to it a metallic ring 35 in elec-,.-

trical connection with a pairof contacts '3 G and 37 so mounted thattheir upper faceslie in and constitute part of theundulatlng top in-thecase .of the sleeve 18, .the two contacts 23 and 24 are mounted at thebottoms of two of theserecesses which are oppositely placed. On-theother hand, the contacts and 37 are mounted respectively on two oppositeelevated or proJectmg parts of the sleeve 28. Obviously, in one of thepositions .of the sleeve 28,v its contacts 36 and 37 respectively engagethe contacts 23 and .24: of

, the sleeve'18, while when said first sleeve is turned through an angleof substantially 90 in either direction, said contacts 36 and 37 engagea portion of the edge of the enlarged part25 of the sleeve 18 at thebottoms of two recesses diametrically opposite those having the contacts23 and 24 and these latter contacts similarly receive a pair of projections' of the edge of the sleeve 28 respectively midway-between or 90displaced from th each pair of coacting contacts is two projectionscarrying the contacts 36 and37.

- The two conductors 2 and 3 pass through the supporting arm 1 and thesleeve 8 into the upper partof the latter where they extend out throughthe openings adjacent the arms or tongues 17 One of said conductors,

as 2,- is then connected to a binding screw of .the ,ontact strip 20,.while the other is exten "ed up between the stem extension 10 and'theinner wall of the casing 14, to

one of the socket terminals 38. A third conductor 39 is likewiseextended from the binding. screw constitutin the terminal of the contactstrip 22 and tie second terminal 40 of the socket 12. As shown in Figs;1 and 2, the various contacts 36-37and 232 1, with their associatedcontact strips and terminals, are all inclosed within an insulatingsleeve 41 of insulating material such as hard fiber which is inwardlyflanged at its upper end and has a central opening 42 for the passage ofthe upper end of the stem 8 and two branch openings 43 and 44: for thepassage of the conductors 3 and 39.

Assumin that the'switch is closed, 6. 6., that the contacts 36 and 37are respectively lnengagement with the contacts 23 and 24:, current isfree to flow from the conductor 2 to-the terminal 22, throu h the strip20 to the contact 23, thence to the contact 36, ring 35, contacts 37 and24, strip 21 and conductor 39 to the lamp socket terminal 10 and 4through the lamp. Thence the current flows to the terminal 38 and to theconductor 3, which leads from the device above described and out throughthe tubular arm 1.

e If it be desired to break the circuit of the lamp by opening theswitch, the plate 15 is turned by means of the handle or arm 33 throughan angle of 90, andthis move ment is transmitted to the sleeve 30,thence,

to the rectangular base portion 29 oft-he sleeve 28, which is thuslikewise turned through an angle of 90. *The various pro- "jec tions ofthe edge of this sleeve thereupon ride up on and ultimately pass overthe pro JGCtIOHS of the lower edge of the sleeve 18, for which purposethe sleeve 28 is forced to slide downwardly upon the stem 8 against theaction of the spring 32. After said projections of this sleeve havepassed-beyond the highest point of the sleeve 18, said spring actstomove them at a. comparatively high rate of speed into the recesses ofsaid second sleeve and in so doing forces the sleeve 28 toward .thelatter, the parts ultimately coming to rest with the contacts of. onesleeve respectively displaced through arcs of 90 from those of the othersleeve.

Obviously therefore, the circuit between v quickly brokenand if themovable sleeve 28 1s furtherrota'ted-through an angle of 90, saidcircu'it is likewise quickly made as the movneeaase able contacts arebrought into engagement with the fixed contacts. It is particularly tobe noted that in all cases the coacting contacts are 'inclosed withinchambers having walls of insulating material, which walls I y areprovided by the coacting portions of the leevcs 18 and 28 and theinclosing tube or protected f injury as well as. efiectually -,In viewof the above'described arrangement; the variousparts of the switch are I"concealed within the casing let, being so protected by the insulatingstructures that the-possibility of a leak occurring to any of" operatinghandle 33, is-practically negligible Likewise the danger ofshort'circuiting between contacts of different polarity or the themetallic. par-ts in connection with the production of destructive arcsis practically I together; a tubular casing mclosing said parts aotaryactuatlng member mounted belo e casing; and an element 00 ecttheparts getting out completely avoided and the structure is so made thatthere is little likelihood of any of of order or requiring repairs.

I claim':-' s '1. The combination of a supporting member; two sleevesthereon. having their adjacent edges of? complementary outline, one-sleeve .being rotatable and longitudlnally slidable two-connectedcontacts on one edge of said. movable sleeve; tWo other contacts a on=-.the adjacenf edge of the other sleeve;

means for j-yieldi ngly pressing said sleeves ingthe-movable sleeve withsaid actu ing, member. 1 f

2. The coinbin'ation of a supporting megatwoisl'eeve'sthereon havingtheir ad 40 cent edges 'of-fcomplementary outline, one

v sleeve} being rotatable-and longitudinally slidableftwoiconnectedcontacts on one edge I vof saidmovable sleeve; two other'contacts onvthe adjacent edge of the other sleeve; 'means foryiel'di-ngly pressingsaid. sleeves together; a tubular casing inclosingsaid *-,:parts-;. arotary actuating member mounted below the casing; and an element connecting" the movable sleeve with said actuating member, consisting of athird sleeve slidable on but non-rotatably fixed to both the movablesleeve and said actuating member.-

3. The combination in an electric switch of a supporting structure; aplate rotatably mounted thereonand having an opening of tudinallyslidable therein edge of the latter body adjacent the first insulatingbody and respectively connected to the terminals; with two othercontacts mounted on the first insulating body in posltion torespectively cooperate with those on the second body.

4. The combination of a tubular supporting structure; an insulating bodyfixed to said structure; a second insulating body mounted below thefirst body and rotatable:

on said supporting structure; two pairs of contacts mounted on theadjacent edges of said insulating bodles; a metallic ring mounted on oneof thebodies and electrically connectlng the contacts thereon; two

terminals on the other insulating body respectively connected .toits-contacts; a sprmg mounted under the lower and movable insulatingbody; a projecting arm for turning said latter body; with means formoving it longitudinally of the supporting structure when it is turned.

5.-The combination in' an electric switch of a supporting structure;ametallic plate rotatably mounted thereon and having an opening of otherthan circular outline; a Y

sleeve non-rotatably fitting'the opening of said plate and rotatabletherewith; a spring in said sleeve; a body ofinsulating material sleeveand longibody of insulating ;materi al mounted above said first body;two pairs of cooperating contacts respectivelyzon' the, adjacent edgesof said insulating bodies; means for electrically connecting thecontacts of one pair;

terminals respectively connected to the other pair of contacts; andmeans for causing longitudinal movement of the first body of insulatingmaterial when it is turned.

6. Theeombination in an electric switch. of a fixed tubular spindle;two'insulating sleevesof which one is fixed to said spindle and theother is rotatable thereon; terminals on said fixed sleeve; contactsalso on said sleeve respectively connected to said terminals and mountedon the edge thereof adjacent the second" sleeve; a metallic ring on saidsecond sleeve; contacts on the edgcof the'latter sleeve coacting withthe contacts of the fixed sleeve and respectively connected to saidring; a metallic sleeve rotatably mounted "on the spindle and connectedto the second insulating sleeve to cause rota: tion thereof whilepermitting it'to slide on the spindle; a spring between said insulatingsleeve and the metallic sleeve; and a plate including a projecting armand having an opening nonrotatably receiving the metallic sleeve. 1 I

In witness whereof-I afilx my slgnature.

' ROSOOE O'PFLEAGER)

